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28DL Full Member

I've been reading around these forums for a few weeks now, and have been on 5 successful explores, with Ourtcloud and a couple of other non 28dl members.

We had a great visit to the Severn Bridge Railway Tunnel in Lydney today, and managed to get some good shots we thought would be good to share!

The history of this site are well documented elsewhere on this forum (here) but here is a brief overview:

The Severn Bridge Railway Tunnel was built by the Severn Bridge Railway company in the 1870s to transport coal from the Forest of Dean on the Severn and Wye Railway. The Tunnel formed a part of the Lydney to Sharpness link, and led to the nearby Severn Railway Bridge.
The tunnel was not in active use for long however, as on 25 October 1960, in thick fog and a strong tide, two barges (named the Arkendale H and Wastdale H) - which had overshot Sharpness Dock - collided with one of the columns of the railway bridge after being carried upstream. Two spans bridge collapsed into the river, and after further damage to the bridge in February 1961, when another span collapsed, the bridge was deemed to be damaged beyond economic repair, and the tunnel was taken out of service forever soon after.

More recently, the tunnel seems to have been used by a local farmer, as access between his fields. Parts of the old station are now being used for raising grouse or some other small game birds.

North-East entrance to the tunnel

Some lovely colours and textures in the brick and block work of the tunnel

Reflection of my shadow on the roof

A shot of one of the tunnel's many refuge points

Another refuge point, nice contrast between the stone and the red brick work

Wooden planks are fastened to the wall and ceiling in places, possibly to support repair works, or part of an old lining

This refuge was in the worst condition of them all, with parts of the brickwork completely collapsed. You can see the wooden support behind the roof of the refuge, and the stone behind it.